Positive-working lithographic printing plate precurosors

ABSTRACT

A positive-working printing plate precursor for wet lithographic printing is disclosed which comprises a support having a hydrophilic surface and a coating comprising a first layer closest to the support, said first layer containing an oleophilic phenolic resin soluble in an aqueous alkaline developer, and a second layer containing an amphyphilic polymer, wherein 
         (c) the second layer is capable of preventing the aqueous alkaline developer from penetrating into the first layer to an extent that substantially no dissolution of unexposed coating occurs upon immersion in the aqueous alkaline developer during a time period t 2 ;    (d) and wherein said capability of the second layer of preventing the aqueous alkaline developer from penetrating into the first layer is reduced upon exposure to heat or light to an extent that substantially complete dissolution of exposed coating occurs upon immersion in the aqueous alkaline developer during a time period t 1 ;    wherein t 2 &gt;t 1  and t 2 −t 1  is at least 10 seconds; and wherein the amphyphilic polymer is a block- or graft-copolymer comprising (i) a poly(alkylene oxide) block and (ii) a block comprising siloxane and/or perfluorohydrocarbon units.

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED PATENT APPLICATIONS

This application is a continuation of U.S. application Ser. No.10/116,948, filed on Apr. 5, 2002, and claims priority to U.S.Application No. 60/291,813 filed on May 16, 2001, which claims thebenefit of EP Application No. 01000109.7 filed on Apr. 9, 2001. Each ofthe foregoing applications are incorporated by reference.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to a positive-working printing plateprecursor that is suitable for wet lithographic printing.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

Lithographic printing presses use a so-called printing master such as aprinting plate which is mounted on a cylinder of the printing press. Themaster carries a lithographic image on its surface and a print isobtained by applying ink to said image and then transferring the inkfrom the master onto a receiver material, which is typically paper. Inconventional, so-called “wet” lithographic printing, ink as well as anaqueous fountain solution (also called dampening liquid) are supplied tothe lithographic image which consists of oleophilic (or hydrophobic,i.e. ink-accepting, water-repelling) areas as well as hydrophilic (oroleophobic, i.e. water-accepting, ink-repelling) areas. In so-calleddriographic printing, the lithographic image consists of ink-acceptingand ink-abhesive (ink-repelling) areas and during driographic printing,only ink is supplied to the master.

Printing masters are generally obtained by the so-calledcomputer-to-film method wherein various pre-press steps such as typefaceselection, scanning, color separation, screening, trapping, layout andimposition are accomplished digitally and each color selection istransferred to graphic arts film using an image-setter. Afterprocessing, the film can be used as a mask for the exposure of animaging material called plate precursor and after plate processing, aprinting plate is obtained which can be used as a master.

A typical printing plate precursor for computer-to-film methods comprisea hydrophilic support and an image-recording layer of a photosensitivepolymer layers which include UV-sensitive diazo compounds,dichromate-sensitized hydrophilic colloids and a large variety ofsynthetic photopolymers. Particularly diazo-sensitized systems arewidely used. Upon image-wise exposure, typically by means of a film maskin a UV contact frame, the exposed image areas become insoluble and theunexposed areas remain soluble in an aqueous alkaline developer. Theplate is then processed with the developer to remove the diazonium saltor diazo resin in the unexposed areas. So the exposed areas define theimage areas (printing areas) of the printing master, and such printingplate precursors are therefore called ‘negative-working’. Alsopositive-working materials, wherein the exposed areas define thenon-printing areas, are known, e.g. plates having anovolac/naphtoquinone-diazide coating which dissolves in the developeronly at exposed areas.

In addition to the above photosensitive materials, also heat-sensitiveprinting plate precursors are known. Such materials offer the advantageof daylight stability and are especially used in the so-calledcomputer-to-plate method wherein the plate precursor is directlyexposed, i.e. without the use of a film mask. The material is exposed toheat or to infrared light and the generated heat triggers a(physico-)chemical process, such as ablation, polymerization,insolubilization by cross-linking of a polymer, decomposition, orparticle coagulation of a thermoplastic polymer latex.

U.S. Pat. No. 5,466,557 describes a positive-working printing plateprecursor which is sensitive to both ultraviolet (UV) and infrared (IR)light but not to visible light, comprising a support and a coatingcomprising an oleophilic polymer that is soluble in an aqueous alkalinedeveloper and a latent Bronsted acid.

WO 97/39894 describes a positive-working heat-sensitive printing plateprecursor which is sensitive to IR light but not to UV light comprisinga support and an IR-sensitive coating comprising an oleophilic polymerthat is soluble in an aqueous alkaline developer and a dissolutioninhibitor which reduces the solubility of the polymer in the developer.

The major problem associated with the above prior art materials is thelow differentiation between the development kinetics of exposed andnon-exposed areas, i.e. the dissolution of the exposed coating in thedeveloper is not completely finished before the unexposed coating alsostarts dissolving in the developer. This leads to low quality printsshowing unsharp edges and toning (ink-acceptance in exposed areas).

EP-A 864 420 describes a positive-working heat-sensitive printing plateprecursor comprising a support, a first layer containing an oleophilicpolymer that is soluble in an aqueous alkaline developer and anIR-sensitive top layer of which the penetrability by or solubility inthe aqueous alkaline developer is changed upon exposure to IR light.

WO99/21725 and WO99/21715 describe a positive-working heat-sensitiveprinting plate precursor of which the coating comprises a compound whichincreases the developer resistance thereof. Said compound is selectedfrom the group consisting of poly(alkylene oxide), siloxanes and esters,ethers or amides of polyhydric alcohols. The coating needs a heattreatment in order to avoid that the sensitivity changes over time.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

It is an aspect of the present invention to provide a positive-workingprinting plate precursor for wet lithographic printing which shows ahigh differentiation between exposed and non-exposed areas and which hasa good shelf life without heat treatment, i.e. its sensitivity does notsubstantially change over time.

A printing plate precursor as defined in claim 1 exhibits a rapiddissolution of exposed areas in the aqueous alkaline developer and amuch slower dissolution of the non-exposed areas. At the first timeperiod designated as t₁ in FIG. 1, the exposed areas are completelydissolved, whereas dissolution of the non-exposed areas starts later,after the second time period designated as t₂ in FIG. 1. The developmentlatitude, defined as the time difference t₂−t₁, is at least 10 seconds,more preferably at least 20 seconds and most preferably at least 40seconds. The material has a high sensitivity immediately after coatingand is stable over time.

Further advantages and embodiments of the present invention will becomeapparent from the following description.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWING

FIG. 1 shows schematically the development kinetics, expressed as weightloss of the coating during development, of exposed and non-exposed areasof a positive-working lithographic printing plate precursor according tothe invention (solid lines) and of a material which does not comply withthe requirements of the invention (dashed lines).

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

The lithographic printing plate precursor of the present inventioncontains a support having a hydrophilic surface and a coating providedthereon. The printing plate precursor is positive-working, i.e. afterexposure and development the exposed areas of the coating are removedfrom the support and define hydrophilic (non-printing) areas, whereasthe unexposed coating is not removed from the support and defines anoleophilic (printing) area. The coating comprises at least two layers,designated herein as first and second layer, the first layer beingclosest to the support, i.e. located between the support and the secondlayer. The second layer is also referred to herein as the barrier layerbecause it acts as a barrier that prevents penetration of the aqueousalkaline developer into the phenolic resin of the first layer atunexposed areas. The barrier function of the second layer probablyarises from the water-repelling properties of the siloxane orperfluorohydrocarbon block of the amphyphilic polymer.

The solubility of the second layer in the developer or the penetrabilityof the second layer by the developer can be reduced by exposure to heator light. As a result, exposed areas dissolve rapidly in the developer.The barrier function of the second layer enables to obtain a longdevelopment time window due to a large difference of the dissolutionrate between exposed and non-exposed areas of an image-wise exposedprecursor. A poor barrier function leads to an unsatisfactorydevelopment latitude, as shown by the dashed curves in FIG. 1:development of the exposed areas is not completed before the start ofthe development of the non-exposed areas. The S-shaped curves in FIG. 1reach a plateau when the coating is completely dissolved and, as aresult, no further weight loss is measured. An exposed materialaccording to the invention (solid lines in FIG. 1) shows a substantiallycomplete dissolution of the coating after a development time t₁, whereassubstantially no dissolution of a non-exposed sample occurs until t₂.“Substantially complete dissolution” shall be understood as a degree ofdissolution of the coating which is sufficient to preclude toning, dueto ink-acceptance of exposed coating that remains on the support afterdevelopment. “Substantially no dissolution” shall be understood as adegree of dissolution which does not lead to a prohibitive reduction ofthe ink coverage on the prints, which is especially noticeable at theedges of the printing areas. Sharp edges of the printing areas and notoning in the non-printing areas are preferred characteristics of printsproduced by the materials of the present invention.

Heat-sensitive materials normally show a “binary” sensitometricbehavior, i.e. once a certain threshold temperature is reached in thecoating during exposure, the imaging mechanism is triggered, leading tocomplete dissolution of the coating within a time t₁, which cannotsignificantly be reduced by applying higher amounts of energy during theexposure. However, in some materials the value of ti may be dependent onthe amount of energy that is used during the exposure, more particularlythere may be materials wherein the value of t₁ gradually decreases as afunction of increasing exposure energy and then stabilizes at stillhigher values: in such cases, the dissolution rate and hence also t₁normally becomes independent of the exposure energy above a certainvalue ε. For such materials the term “exposure”, as used in the claims,corresponds to that value ε.

In another embodiment, the barrier function of the second layer can alsobe reduced by simple rubbing. A preferred second layer is capable ofbeing removed by rubbing to an extent that substantially completedissolution of rubbed coating occurs upon immersion in the aqueousalkaline developer during a time period t₃ of 10 seconds, said rubbingbeing defined as rubbing with a cotton pad of a size 85×85 mm at apressure of 9.69 g/cm² during 50 cycles, each cycle being defined as alinear translation of the cotton pad on the coating over a distance of30 cm at a speed of 0.40 m/s. Said distance is the distance between theposition of the tailing edge at the beginning of a translation and theposition of -he leading edge at the end of a translation. The cotton padis preferably of the type 4-4931 from A. B. Dick.

Whilst the applicants do not wish to be limited by any theoreticalexplanation of how their invention operates, it is believed that thespreading of the second layer on the first layer is reduced by theexposure, e.g. by ‘thermal de-wetting’, i.e. heat-induced decrease ofthe surface tension of the amphyphilic polymer, to such an extent thatthe second layer breaks up, thereby forming an incomplete layer whichcan no longer shield the first layer from the developer completely.Rubbing with a cotton pad also removes a sufficient amount of theamphyphilic polymer to trigger development. The removal of theamphyphilic polymer by rubbing can be measured e.g. by comparing theratio of the siloxane ¹H-NMR signals versus the signals of the phenolicresin of a sample before and after rubbing.

The second layer comprises an amphyphilic polymer which is a block- orgraft-copolymer comprising a poly(alkylene oxide) block and a block ofsiloxane and/or perfluorohydrocarbon units. It is believed that such acopolymer, due to its amphyphilic structure, positions itself duringcoating at the interface between the coating solution and air andthereby automatically forms a separate top layer, corresponding to thesecond layer of the present invention, even when applied as aningredient of the coating solution of the oleophilic layer. This mayexplain why a stable sensitometry is obtained without heat treatmentimmediately after coating, contrary to the non-amphyphilic polymers asdisclosed in WO99/21715: the prior art polymers need heating, probablyin order to induce diffusion of these polymers to the upper surface ofthe coating. Simultaneously, the amphyphilic polymer also acts as aspreading agent which improves the coating quality.

Alternatively, the amphyphilic polymer can be applied in a secondsolution, coated on top of the first layer. In that embodiment, it maybe advantageous to use a solvent in the second coating solution that isnot capable of dissolving the ingredients present in the first layer sothat a phase of highly concentrated amphyphilic polymer is obtained atthe top of the material.

The block comprising the siloxane and/or perfluorohydrocarbon units maybe a linear, branched, cyclic or complex crosslinked polymer. Theperfluorohydrocarbon unit is e.g. a —(CF₂)— unit. The number of suchunits may be larger than 10, preferably larger than 20. The termpolysiloxane compound shall include any compound which contains morethan one siloxane group —Si(R,R′)—O—, wherein R and R′ are optionallysubstituted alkyl or aryl groups. Preferred siloxanes arephenylalkylsiloxanes and dialkylsiloxanes, e.g. phenylmethylsiloxanesand dimethylsiloxanes. The number of siloxane groups in the (co)polymeris at least 2, preferably at least 10, more preferably at least 20. Itmay be less than 100, preferably less than 60. The alkylene oxide blockpreferably includes units of the formula —C_(n)H_(2n)—O— wherein n ispreferably an integer in the range 2 to 5. The moiety —C_(n)H_(2n)— mayinclude straight or branched chains. The alkylene moiety may alsocomprise optional substituents. Preferred embodiments and explicitexamples of such polymers have been disclosed in WO99/21725. A suitableamphyphilic polymer comprises about 15 to 25 siloxane units and 50 to 70alkylene oxide groups. Preferred examples include copolymers comprisingphenylmethylsiloxane and/or dimethylsiloxane as well as ethylene oxideand/or propylene oxide. Specific compounds are the following:

wherein n, p and q are integers>1. In formula I, a poly(alkylene oxide)block consisting of ethylene oxide and propylene oxide units is graftedto a polysiloxane block. In formula II, two poly(alkylene oxide) blocksare coupled to a polysiloxane block to form a linear block-copolymer. Ineach block, different units may be present in random order, e.g. thepoly(alkylene oxide) block may be a random polymer of ethylene oxide andpropylene oxide units.

Besides the amphyphilic polymer, other ingredients may also be containedin the second layer, e.g. the phenolic resin of the first layer may alsobe present in the second. More preferably, the second layer does notcontain other binders besides the amphyphilic polymer and mostpreferably, the second layer consists essentially of the amphyphilicpolymer. In one embodiment, the second layer contains the amphyphilicpolymer in an amount between 0.5 and 25 mg/m², preferably between 0.5and 15 mg/m² and most preferably between 0.5 and 10 mg/m². Since theamphyphilic polymer is also ink-repelling, higher amounts than 25 mg/m²can result in poor ink-acceptance of the non-exposed areas. An amountlower than 0.5 mg/m² on the other hand may lead to an unsatisfactorydevelopment resistance.

The phenolic resin in the first layer is an oleophilic polymer that issoluble in an aqueous developer, more preferably an aqueous alkalinedeveloping solution with a pH between 7.5 and 14. Preferred polymers aree.g. novolac, resoles, polyvinyl phenols and carboxy substituted.Typical examples of these polymers are described in DE-A-4007428,DE-A-4027301 and DE-A-4445820.

The coating preferably comprises a dye or pigment which sensitizes thematerial to the light used during the exposure. It is preferably acompound or particle having an absorption maximum in the wavelengthrange between 250 and 1500 nm. According to a more preferred embodiment,the material is sensitive to UV light (<400 nm) and/or IR light (>750nm) but not to visible light (400-750 nm). Most preferably, the materialis not sensitive to ambient daylight, i.e. light in the near UV (300-400nm) and visible wavelength range at an intensity and exposure timecorresponding to normal working conditions so that the material can behandled without the need for a safe light environment. “Not sensitive”shall mean that no substantial change of the dissolution rate of thecoating in the developer is induced by the exposure.

Preferred IR-absorbing compounds are dyes such as cyanine dyes orpigments such as carbon black. Preferred UV-absorbing compounds arecapable of generating a radical upon exposure to UV light. SuitableUV-sensitizers can be selected from the group consisting of a compoundhaving a carbon-halogen bond, an aromatic onium salt, an organicperoxide, a thio compound, a hexaarylbisimidazole or a ketoxime ester.Specific examples of such compounds can be found in U.S. Pat. Nos.5,049,481 and 5,466,557. Preferably s-triazines, thioxanthones,hexaaryl-bisimidazoles or mercaptobenzoxazoles are used.

The sensitizing dye or pigment may be present in the first and/or thesecond layer. According to a highly preferred embodiment, the dye orpigment is concentrated in or near the second layer, e.g. in anintermediate layer between the first and the second layer. According tothat embodiment, said intermediate layer comprises the light absorbingcompound in an amount higher than the amount of light absorbing compoundin the first or in the second layer. In a preferred embodiment, thesecond layer comprises no effective amount of sensitizing dye.

The first layer may further contain other ingredients such as additionalbinders to improve the run length of the plate, colorants, developmentinhibitors as disclosed in EP-A 823 327 and WO 97/39894 or developmentaccelerators. Said colorants are preferably dyes which duringdevelopment remain in the coating at non-exposed areas and which arewashed out at exposed areas, thereby producing a visible image. Suchindicator dyes preferably do not sensitize the coating to visible light.Suitable development accelerators are described in e.g. EP-A 933 682.Such compounds act as dissolution promoters because they are capable ofreducing the dissolution time of the oleophilic layer. For example,cyclic acid anhydrides, phenols or organic acids can be used in order toimprove the aqueous developability. Examples of the cyclic acidanhydride include phthalic anhydride, tetrahydrophthalic anhydride,hexahydrophthalic anhydride, 3,6-endoxy-4-tetrahydrophthalic anhydride,tetrachlorophthalic anhydride, maleic anhydride, chloromaleic anhydride,alpha -phenylmaleic anhydride, succinic anhydride, and pyromelliticanhydride, as described in U.S. Pat. No. 4,115,128. Examples of thephenols include bisphenol A, p-nitrophenol, p-ethoxyphenol,2,4,4′-trihydroxybenzophenone, 2,3,4-trihydroxy-benzophenone,4-hydroxybenzophenone, 4,4′,4″-trihydroxy-triphenylmethane, and4,4′,3″,4″-tetrahydroxy-3,5,3′,5′-tetramethyltriphenyl-methane, and thelike. Examples of the organic acids include sulfonic acids, sulfinicacids, alkylsulfuric acids, phosphonic acids, phosphates, and carboxylicacids, as described in, for example, JP-A Nos. 60-88,942 and 2-96,755.Specific examples of these organic acids include p-toluenesulfonic acid,dodecylbenzenesulfonic acid, p-toluenesulfinic acid, ethylsulfuric acid,phenylphosphonic acid, phenylphosphinic acid, phenyl phosphate, diphenylphosphate, benzoic acid, isophthalic acid, adipic acid, p-toluic acid,3,4-dimethoxybenzoic acid, phthalic acid, terephthalic acid,4-cyclohexene-1,2-dicarboxylic acid, erucic acid, lauric acid,n-undecanoic acid, and ascorbic acid. The amount of the cyclic acidanhydride, phenol, or organic acid contained in the image formingcomposition is preferably in the range of 0.05 to 20% by weight.

The support has a hydrophilic surface or is provided with a hydrophiliclayer. The support may be a sheet-like material such as a plate or itmay be a cylindrical element such as a sleeve which can be slid around aprint cylinder of a printing press. Preferably, the support is a metalsupport such as aluminum or stainless steel.

A particularly preferred lithographic support is an electrochemicallygrained and anodized aluminum support. The anodized aluminum support maybe treated to improve the hydrophilic properties of its surface. Forexample, the aluminum support may be silicated by treating its surfacewith a sodium silicate solution at elevated temperature, e.g. 95° C.Alternatively, a phosphate treatment may be applied which involvestreating the aluminum oxide surface with a phosphate solution that mayfurther contain an inorganic fluoride. Further, the aluminum oxidesurface may be rinsed with a citric acid or citrate solution. Thistreatment may be carried out at room temperature or may be carried outat a slightly elevated temperature of about 30 to 50° C. A furtherinteresting treatment involves rinsing the aluminum oxide surface with abicarbonate solution. Still further, the aluminum oxide surface may betreated with polyvinylphosphonic acid, polyvinylmethylphosphonic acid,phosphoric acid esters of polyvinyl alcohol, polyvinylsulfonic acid,polyvinylbenzenesulfonic acid, sulfuric acid esters of polyvinylalcohol, and acetals of polyvinyl alcohols formed by reaction with asulfonated aliphatic aldehyde It is further evident that one or more ofthese post treatments may be carried out alone or in combination. Moredetailed descriptions of these treatments are given in GB-A-1 084 070,DE-A-4 423 140, DE-A-4 417 907, EP-A-659 909, EP-A-537 633, DE-A-4 001466, EP-A-292 801, EP-A-291 760 and U.S. Pat. No. 4,458,005.

According to another embodiment, the support can also be a flexiblesupport, which is provided with a hydrophilic layer, hereinafter called‘base layer’. The flexible support is e.g. paper, plastic film, thinaluminum or a laminate thereof. Preferred examples of plastic film arepolyethylene terephthalate film, polyethylene naphthalate film,cellulose acetate film, polystyrene film, polycarbonate film, etc. Theplastic film support may be opaque or transparent.

The base layer is preferably a cross-linked hydrophilic layer obtainedfrom a hydrophilic binder cross-linked with a hardening agent such asformaldehyde, glyoxal, polyisocyanate or a hydrolyzedtetra-alkylorthosilicate. The latter is particularly preferred. Thethickness of the hydrophilic base layer may vary in the range of 0.2 to25 μm and is preferably 1 to 10 μm.

The hydrophilic binder for use in the base layer is e.g. a hydrophilic(co)polymer such as homopolymers and copolymers of vinyl alcohol,acrylamide, methylol acrylamide, methylol methacrylamide, acrylate acid,methacrylate acid, hydroxyethyl acrylate, hydroxyethyl methacrylate ormaleic anhydride/vinylmethylether copolymers. The hydrophilicity of the(co)polymer or (co)polymer mixture used is preferably the same as orhigher than the hydrophilicity of polyvinyl acetate hydrolyzed to atleast an extent of 60% by weight, preferably 80% by weight.

The amount of hardening agent, in particular tetraalkyl orthosilicate,is preferably at least 0.2 parts per part by weight of hydrophilicbinder, more preferably between 0.5 and 5 parts by weight, mostpreferably between 1 parts and 3 parts by weight.

The hydrophilic base layer may also contain substances that increase themechanical strength and the porosity of the layer. For this purposecolloidal silica may be used. The colloidal silica employed may be inthe form of any commercially available water dispersion of colloidalsilica for example having an average particle size up to 40 nm, e.g. 20nm. In addition inert particles of larger size than the colloidal silicamay be added e.g. silica prepared according to Stöber as described in J.Colloid and Interface Sci., Vol. 26, 1968, pages 62 to 69 or aluminaparticles or particles having an average diameter of at least 100 nmwhich are particles of titanium dioxide or other heavy metal oxides. Byincorporating these particles the surface of the hydrophilic base layeris given a uniform rough texture consisting of microscopic hills andvalleys, which serve as storage places for water in background areas.

Particular examples of suitable hydrophilic base layers for use inaccordance with the present invention are disclosed in EP-A-601 240,GB-P-1 419 512, FR-P-2 300 354, U.S. Pat. No. 3,971,660, and U.S. Pat.No. 4,284,705.

It is particularly preferred to use a film support to which an adhesionimproving layer, also called support layer, has been provided.Particularly suitable adhesion improving layers for use in accordancewith the present invention comprise a hydrophilic binder and colloidalsilica as disclosed in EP-A-619 524, EP-A-620 502 and EP-A-619 525.Preferably, the amount of silica in the adhesion improving layer isbetween 200 mg/m² and 750 mg/M². Further, the ratio of silica tohydrophilic binder is preferably more than 1 and the surface area of thecolloidal silica is preferably at least 300 m²/gram, more preferably atleast 500 m²/gram.

The printing plate precursor of the present invention can be exposed toheat or to light, e.g. by means of a thermal head, LEDs or a laser head.Preferably, one or more lasers such as a He/Ne laser, an Ar lasers or aviolet laser diode are used. Most preferably, the light used for theexposure is not visible light, e.g. UV (laser) light or a laser emittingnear infrared light having a wavelength in the range from about 750 toabout 1500 nm is used, such as a semiconductor laser diode, a Nd:YAG ora Nd:YLF laser. The required laser power depends on the sensitivity ofthe image-recording layer, the pixel dwell time of the laser beam, whichis determined by the spot diameter (typical value of modernplate-setters at 1/e² of maximum intensity: 10-25 μm), the scan speedand the resolution of the exposure apparatus (i.e. the number ofaddressable pixels per unit of linear distance, often expressed in dotsper inch or dpi; typical value: 1000-4000 dpi).

Two types of laser-exposure apparatuses are commonly used: internal(ITD) and external drum (XTD) plate-setters. ITD plate-setters forthermal plates are typically characterized by a very high scan speed upto 500 m/sec and may require a laser power of several Watts. XTDplate-setters for thermal plates having a typical laser power from about200 mW to about 1 W operate at a lower scan speed, e.g. from 0.1 to 10m/sec.

The known plate-setters can be used as an off-press exposure apparatus,which offers the benefit of reduced press down-time. XTD plate-setterconfigurations can also be used for the on-press exposure, offering thebenefit of immediate registration in a multi-color press. More technicaldetails of on-press exposure apparatuses are described in e.g. U.S. Pat.No. 5,174,205 and U.S. Pat. No. 5,163,368.

In the development step, the exposed areas of the coating are removed byimmersion in an aqueous alkaline developer, which may be combined withmechanical rubbing, e.g. by a rotating brush. The immersion time liesbetween t₁ and t₂ so that the exposed areas are dissolved completelybefore the non-exposed areas are affected by the developer. Thedevelopment step may be followed by a drying step, a rinsing step, agumming step, and/or a post-baking step.

The printing plate thus obtained can be used for conventional, so-calledwet offset printing, in which ink and an aqueous dampening liquid issupplied to the plate. Another suitable printing method uses so-calledsingle-fluid ink without a dampening liquid. Single-fluid inks which aresuitable for use in the method of the present invention have beendescribed in U.S. Pat. No. 4,045,232; U.S. Pat. No. 4,981,517 and U.S.Pat. No. 6,140,392. In a most preferred embodiment, the single-fluid inkcomprises an ink phase, also called the hydrophobic or oleophilic phase,and a polyol phase as described in WO 00/32705.

EXAMPLES

Preparation of the Lithographic Base

A 0.30 mm thick aluminum foil was degreased by immersing the foil in anaqueous solution containing 5 g/l of sodium hydroxide at 50° C. andrinsed with demineralized water. The foil was then electrochemicallygrained using an alternating current in an aqueous solution containing 4g/l of hydrochloric acid, 4 g/l of hydroboric acid and 5 g/l of aluminumions at a temperature of 35° C. and a current density of 1200 A/m² toform a surface topography with an average center-line roughness Ra of0.5 μm.

After rinsing with demineralized water the aluminum foil was then etchedwith an aqueous solution containing 300 g/l of sulfuric acid at 60° C.for 180 seconds and rinsed with demineralized water at 25° C. for 30seconds.

The foil was subsequently subjected to anodic oxidation in an aqueoussolution containing 200 g/l of sulfuric acid at a temperature of 45° C.,a voltage of about 10 V and a current density of 150 A/m² for about 300seconds to form an anodic oxidation film of 3.00 g/m² of Al₂O₃ thenwashed with demineralized water, post-treated with a solution containingpolyvinylphosphonic acid and subsequently with a solution containingaluminum trichloride, rinsed with demineralized water at 20° C. during120 seconds and dried.

Preparation of a Lithographic Printing Plate Precursor

An IR-sensitive layer was coated onto the above described lithographicbase from a tetrahydrofuran/methoxypropanol mixture (50:50 vol. ratio)at 20 μm coating thickness. After drying the layer consisted of 0.13g/m² of 3,4,5-trimethoxybenzoic acid, 35 mg/m² of infrared dye IR-1, 0.9g/m² of ALNOVOL SPN452 (novolac available from Clariant, Germany) and 13mg/M² of Flexoblau 630 (an indicator dye available from BASF).

Then, a second coating of 5 mg/m² of a polysiloxane polyether copolymer(TEGO GLIDE 410, commercially available from Tego Chemie Service GmbH)was applied on the first layer using isopropanol/water (25:75 vol.ratio) as a solvent.

This material was imaged with a TRENDSETTER 3244-T (available from Creo)external drum platesetter operation at 830 nm, 2400 dpi, 150 rpmresulting in an energy-density of 140 mJ/cm². After IR-imaging thematerial was developed during 25 seconds in an Autolith T processor(available from Agfa-Gevaert) using an OZASOL EP26™ developer (alsoavailable from Agfa-Gevaert) at 25° C. The processor also contained arinsing section (water) and a gumming section (RC795 gum fromAgfa-Gevaert). The IR-exposed areas dissolved very rapidly without anyattack in the non IR-exposed areas, resulting in a positive workingprinting plate. The plate was printed on a Heidelberg GTO46 printingmachine with a conventional ink (K+E800) and fountain solution(Rotamatic), resulting in good prints, i.e. no toning in the exposedareas and good ink-uptake in the non imaged areas.

COMPARATIVE EXAMPLE

In this comparative example an imaging element was prepared in anidentical way as the imaging element of example 1 with the exceptionthat no second coating was applied on the first layer.

This material was imaged with a CREO TRENDSETTER 3244-T™ external drumplatesetter at 2400 dpi with an energy-density of 263 mJ/cm² at 106 rpm.After IR-imaging the material was developed as described in the previousexample. The IR-exposed areas and the non-exposed areas were bothdissolved in the developer, resulting in a useless printing platewithout image. Development in milder conditions (8 parts EP26/2 partswater) did not provide an improvement.

1. A positive-working printing plate precursor for wet lithographicprinting comprising a support having a hydrophilic surface and a coatingcomprising a first layer closest to the support, said first layercontaining a resin soluble in an aqueous alkaline developer, a secondlayer containing an amphyphilic polymer, and an intermediate layerbetween said first and second layers, wherein (a) the second layer iscapable of preventing the aqueous alkaline developer from penetratinginto the first layer to an extent that substantially no dissolution ofunexposed coating occurs upon immersion in the aqueous alkalinedeveloper during a time period t₂; (b) said capability of the secondlayer of preventing the aqueous alkaline developer from penetrating intothe first layer is reduced upon exposure to heat or light to an extentthat substantially complete dissolution of exposed coating occurs uponimmersion in the aqueous alkaline developer during a time period t₁;t₂>t, and t₂−t₁ is at least 10 seconds; and the amphyphilic polymer is ablock- or graft-copolymer comprising (i) a poly(alkylene oxide) blockand (ii) a block comprising siloxane and/or perfluorohydrocarbon units;and (c) said intermediate layer comprises a dye or pigment in an amounthigher than the amount of dye or pigment in the first or second layer.2. A lithographic printing plate precursor according to claim 1 whereinthe amphyphilic polymer is present in an amount between 0.5 and 25mg/m².
 3. A lithographic printing plate precursor according to claim 1wherein the amphyphilic polymer is present in an amount between 0.5 and15 mg/m².
 4. A lithographic printing plate precursor according to claim1 wherein the amphyphilic polymer is present in an amount between 0.5and 10 mg/m².
 5. A lithographic printing plate precursor according toclaim 1 wherein the amphyphilic polymer is present in an amount between0.5 and 5 mg/m².
 6. A lithographic printing plate precursor according toclaim 1 wherein the second layer consists essentially of the amphyphilicpolymer.
 7. A lithographic printing plate precursor according to claim 1wherein t₁ is 20 and t₂ is 40 seconds.
 8. A lithographic printing plateprecursor according to claim 1 wherein t₁ is 10 and t₂ is 60 seconds. 9.A lithographic printing plate precursor according to claim 1 wherein thesecond layer is capable of being removed by rubbing to an extent thatsubstantially complete dissolution of rubbed coating occurs uponimmersion in the aqueous alkaline developer during a time period t₃ of10 seconds, said rubbing being defined as rubbing with a cotton pad of asize 85×85 mm at a pressure of 9.69 g/cm² during 50 cycles, each cyclebeing defined as a linear translation of the cotton pad on the coatingover a distance of 30 cm at a speed of 0.40 m/s.
 10. A lithographicprinting plate precursor according to claim 9 wherein t₃ is 20 seconds.11. A lithographic printing plate precursor according to claim 1 whereinthe light is infrared light.
 12. A lithographic printing plate precursoraccording to claim 1 wherein the light is ultraviolet light.
 13. Alithographic printing plate precursor according to claim 1 wherein theprecursor is not sensitive to ambient daylight.
 14. A lithographicprinting plate precursor according to claim 1 wherein the second layeris substantially free of dye or pigment.
 15. A method of making alithographic printing plate comprising the steps of image-wise exposureof a lithographic printing plate precursor according to claim 1 andsubsequent processing by immersing the precursor in the aqueous alkalinedeveloper during a time period between t₁ and t₂.
 16. A method of wetlithographic printing comprising the steps of making a lithographicprinting plate comprising the steps of image-wise exposing alithographic printing plate precursor according to claim 1 and immersingthe image-wise exposed precursor in an aqueous alkaline developer duringa time between t₁ and t₂ to provide a printing plate; and printing withthe printing plate on a lithographic press wherein ink and an aqueousdampening liquid are supplied to a printing plate.